There is evidence to suggest that poultry may have a dietary requirement for metabolically available
chromium (Cr) that exceeds the amount provided through wheat soybean meal diets. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplemental organic Cr from Cr
propionate at different dose levels (control = 0 μg/kg, T1 = 200 μg/kg, T2 = 400 μg/kg) on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of broilers.
Weight gain and feed intake of each treatment were recorded at the start and after 14, 28 and 35 d, and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were calculated accordingly. At 35 d of age, birds were randomly selected and euthanized for carcass evaluation. Results of the first trial indicate that both Cr
propionate treatments increased final
body weight (P < 0.05), feed efficiency (P < 0.05) and
body weight gain (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, Cr
propionate supplementation improved (P < 0.0001) all carcass characteristics. Interestingly, with increased Cr dosage, carcass yield, dressing percentage and breast meat yield increased linearly (P < 0.0001). The second study reveals that the feed intake in the control group was significantly higher compared to both Cr
propionate supplemented groups (T1 & T2). Furthermore, the Cr
propionate supplemented T2 group displayed a significantly lower FCR than the control and T1 group (P = 0.027). Finally, Cr
propionate supplementation increased the dressing percentage compared to control birds (P < 0.0001). In the third experiment, Cr
propionate supplementation (T1 & T2) increased final
body weight and decreased FCR compared with the control treatment. These effects were highly significant (P < 0.0001) throughout all feeding phases of the trial. Cr
propionate supplementation also increased (P < 0.0001) carcass yield, dressing percentage, breast meat yield, leg and thigh weights compared with the control treatment. In conclusion, growth performance, feed conversion, carcass yield, breast and leg meats of broiler birds can be significantly improved by dietary inclusion of Cr
propionate. Cr
propionate can be supplemented to broiler birds from 1 d old of age at a level that provides 200 or 400 μg/kg organic Cr and can increase the efficiency of broiler production.